Athletes give donors a personal thank-you

SPORTS | Blue Hens gave a cheer to more than 1,300 donors last spring by thanking them for their support over the past year during the University’s second annual Student-Athlete Thank-a-Thon.

ADVERTISEMENT

During the event, representatives from all 23 varsity athletic teams gathered at the Bob Carpenter Center to call donors and convey their appreciation, according to Jason Hescock, coordinator of this year’s event.

He says the phone calls between the athlete and the donor are typically an unscripted dialogue. Topics of conversation range from the team’s performance in the past season to prospects for next season to the student’s academic endeavors.

The event kicked off with football players making calls on a Sunday evening. “The kids didn’t know what to expect, but the feedback I got afterward was, ‘Can I do this again? This is awesome!’ Hescock says. “They loved it.”

Scarlett Schmidt, director of athletic development, says the Thank-a-Thon is a way for student-athletes to thank the donors who provide important resources to the University’s athletics program. It is also an opportunity for UD student-athletes to gain a better understanding of scholarship funding and donor support, she says.

The athletes call donors who have contributed to their specific sport’s funds, as well as donors to the general athletic fund, Schmidt says.